It totally depends on the “child’s” age and maturity. If we’re talking about small children, say 12 to 15 years old, you’ll effectively be given a pet to care for – or it’ll die quickly.
It’s similar to the goldfish that carnivals offer away in small cups. If you’re lucky, the kids take them home, and they live for a month. Goldfish can live for up to ten years if they are appropriately cared for. Animal cruelty laws should govern that.
If you have reptiles, you don’t have to walk or train them, but don’t think that you can just throw some food and water in their enclosure and forget about them. Depending on the species of pet, they need particular care in terms of temperature, humidity, daily cleaning of their enclosure, and other things.
Some snakes can grow to be enormous; a cute little juvenile Boa Constrictor or Iguana, for example, can grow to be 12 to 6 feet long and live for decades. What would you do if a child becomes bored with the pet? When you get a pet, you implicitly take moral responsibility for its well-being, or at least you should. Even if you can’t interact with a reptile-like you can with a human, it’s still a living being that can feel pain.
Look for reasonable reptiles for your kids.
Reptiles, unlike mammals such as cats and dogs, hate being handled. Many lizards and snakes born in captivity will grow accustomed to it and tolerate it, but none of them seek it out. In the wild, reptiles feed and sleep.
They switch when they are in a bad situation, whether it is due to weather, food, predators, or an annoying owner. When they are happy, or at least satisfied, they sit still.
Many children acquire reptiles to draw attention or treat them as toys; however, this is not the case. Yes, if your child has enough patience to read a book about pet care and demonstrates a freakish natural curiosity scientifically. Many reptiles live for ten, fifteen, or thirty years or longer, depending on the species, so that it may be a significant financial investment as well as a source of joy for a lifetime.
Today, catching and keeping lizards is probably illegal, but if you live in an area where lizards exist, they can be very entertaining. Throughout my childhood and even into college, I had lizards on and off.
You can usually catch one, hold it in an aquarium for a few days, feed it crickets, and observe its actions before releasing it where you captured it. It’s beneficial for the child to learn about it, and then returning it to nature is a rewarding experience.
Are you purchasing one?
If you are considering purchasing one, keep in mind that you will never be able to let it go in nature. Exotic species will be introduced in this way.
So, you buy one and keep it until it dies, or you can find it a new loving home. However, geckos and other lizards can become very tame after a while. Iguanas can also be tamed, but they grow to be very tall.
Adopting a family pet is a lot of fun, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. You’re bringing a new member into the family, so make sure you choose a pet you’ll be able to commit to.
What are the most severe disadvantages?
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. Salmonella is a bacterial infection. Diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fever, and stomach cramps are all signs of the disease. It may also cause dehydration and blood infections. Salmonella is a threat to reptiles of all kinds. hand washing helps to reduce the risk.
This entails ensuring that both you and your child wash their hands after handling your pet, as well as: their feces, their food, and any surfaces or equipment that may have come into contact with feces.
Botulism is a disease caused by botulism. Botulism is a dangerous and possibly fatal disease.
Clostridium is the germ that causes it. Indeed, it causes death and paralysis. Clostridium is a common bacterium found in reptiles. Botulism is particularly harmful to babies and children under the age of one.
Why You Shouldn’t Bring Wild Reptiles Home
- Around you, wild animals would be stressed.
- State laws cover a number of reptiles.
- You’re having a detrimental effect on the local reptile and amphibian population.
- Diseases are more likely to be spread by wild animals.
- In their natural environment, wild animals flourish.
The bottom line
Since all reptiles and amphibians, regardless of species, may carry Salmonella bacteria, these pets should not be kept by very young children who can handle them and then put their hands in their mouths.
When caring for reptiles and amphibians, all children should be monitored, and families should perform extensive research into the reptile’s or amphibian’s care requirements before bringing one into their home.